APPLETON - Gov.-elect Tony Evers urged business leaders to support him against Republican-backed legislation that would limit the new administration of some powers, including control over the state economic development agency.

Evers spoke at the annual New North Summit at the Fox Cities Exhibition Center in Appleton on Thursday. He outlined his plans for the state and encouraged the regional economic development organization to use its influence to convince Gov. Scott Walker to veto a bill limiting the governor's power over the Wisconsin Economic Development Corporation.

"I'm very hopeful ... you can use your influence to possibly get a change in the recent legislation moving forward," Evers told attendees.

The governor-elect said he will announce an economic development advisory council this week.

Following a 22-hour extraordinary legislative session on Wednesday, the state Legislature passed three bills, including Senate Bill 884, which would reinforce the power of the Legislature over the governor and attorney general on key issues such as health care, litigation, public benefits and job creation.

The bill also restricts early voting to just two weeks before an election.

"It's not in the state's best interest to make it harder to vote," Evers told the media after Thursday's speech. "I think we should be making it easier and easier to vote."

Attorney General-elect Josh Kaul has called the legislation undemocratic.

Walker has indicated he plans to sign the bills before he leaves office Jan. 7.

Governor-elect Tony Evers addressed the New North Summit at the Fox Cities Exhibition Center in Appleton on Thursday.(Photo: USA TODAY NETWORK-Wisconsin)

If the bill is signed, it would also give the Legislature the power to control appointees to the board that runs the WEDC until Sept. 1.

"They essentially have given me a nine-month period of time where I have no authority to accomplish anything with that organization and essentially, it has become a function of the legislature and not of the executive branch," Evers said.

Evers said passing the three bills is moving backwards and goes against the will of those who voted for him.

"People of Wisconsin wanted me to be governor," Evers said. "(They) wanted me to be an active governor. They wanted me to solve problems and taking away authority of both the attorney general and myself is a step in the wrong direction.

"Hopefully, we can get some support from Gov. Walker to veto the legislation, but absent that, we will be looking at all sorts of actions going forward."

Evers said he plans to set up a call with the governor in the next couple of days. He is hopeful he can convince Walker to make some adjustments, but will consider litigation if the bills are put into law.

"It's part of his legacy that as he's walking out the door, I believe to do the right thing for the people of Wisconsin and consider some vetoes," he said. "We will not just lie down and accept this. We believe it was a wrong step and we're going to continue to ... take the steps necessary to change this."

At the summit, Evers also touched on the need to fix state roads and make transportation a priority when he takes office as well as create more opportunities for youth in the workforce.